< 132. Unseasonable Winter (2) >
#132
“It’s been two years.”
Adesan withdrew his hand and stood facing Ronan. The trembling voice was dripping with moisture. She buried her face in Ronan’s chest as she quietly took a deep breath.
“senior?”
“…Please stay like this for a moment.”
It was a bold action that would have been difficult to imagine two years ago. In the first place Adeshan was taller at the time so it was an impossible position to do.
Her hair which hung below her chin smelled of winter flowers. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of her heart. She said Ade Shan.
“You’re really back.”
“I told you earlier.”
“I’ve waited a long time.”
Her shoulders were shaking with her coat on. Ronan wrapped his arms around Ade Shan like a hug and patted her on the back.
The two maintained that posture for quite some time. Ade Shan finally raised her head and smiled.
“You’ve grown a lot taller.”
“That surprised me too.”
“Her hair was really long too. “Strangely the beard didn’t grow much.”
“hair? ah.”
It was only then that Ronan noticed that something similar was covering the back of her neck. I placed my hand on hers and felt it grab her bushy hair. It seemed to have grown to at least her shoulders. Ronan frowned at her as she felt the uncomfortable touch for the first time in her life.
“eww.”
“Ahaha if it’s uncomfortable I’ll cut it later.”
“Thank you so much. By the way is what you just said true?”
“huh?”
“I mean two years have passed.”
For a moment there was silence over her. She said Ade Shan nodded her head cautiously. Ronan who had been twisting his lips this and that way made her sigh.
‘Damn should I say this worked out cheaply?’
Because she had made up her mind in advance her shock was less. It was a good thing that I had prepared for this and that keeping in mind that it would take her a long time. Ronan barely able to gather his thoughts opened her mouth.
“how have you been doing? “What about my sister and the rest?”
“I’ve been fine. “Everyone is healthy so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“thank god. “Really.”
Ronan sighed in relief. It was what she had wanted to hear the most since she returned. Suddenly her Ade Shan’s face darkened.
“Ah but Instructor Nabirose is a little…”
“What happened?”
Ronan tilted her head. It was unusual for her to stop talking. After thinking for a moment she shook her head.
“Umm…no. I think it would be better to hear this from yourself. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. “You’re not hurt or anything right?”
“huh. That’s true but…”
Ade Shan pursed her lips. Although he was very suspicious he couldn’t be hired as long as he showed up like that. Ronan who had a feeling that the atmosphere would become awkward changed the topic of conversation.
“Right what are those monsters from earlier?”
“Ah it’s a monster called Snow Beast. “It appears once every three or four days but I haven’t had any luck.”
“that’s right. It was that kind of name. “Why are those guys showing up at school?”
“therefore…”
Adeshan was about to say something. Beep! Beep! A loud alarm sounded from somewhere.
“what?”
Ronan realized that the sound was coming from Adeshan’s wrist. To be exact in the thin bracelet worn on the wrist. Adeshan opened his eyes wide.
“That’s right I forgot…!”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s a student council notification. “We have to have a meeting once the Snow Beast is subdued.”
“Student council?”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. It seemed like a place where being restless was quite important. He said patting Adeshan on the back.
“It’s okay let’s go.”
“Is that okay? “Do you… remember everything about school geography?”
“I don’t have dementia. “I’ll be at my sister’s house.”
“Yes thank you. “I’ll leave as soon as it’s over…!”
Adeshan turned and disappeared into the blizzard. As if she had learned to walk there was barely any sound from her footsteps.
Ronan picked up the chest she had left on the floor. He thought of Adeshan’s face and muttered quietly.
“…You’ve become so pretty.”
It was the first time I got that impression from someone other than my sister. The only thing that was different from my previous life was the devastated eye shadows but I never thought there would be this much of a difference.
It felt like I could still smell winter flowers on my chest. Ronan left the campus and headed to Iril’s house.
The snow fell non-stop the entire way. It didn’t seem like an ordinary winter after all. A surprisingly clear distance came into view. Flame spirits and magic engineering knights were constantly clearing snow.
‘It’s nice to have money. When I was a punitive soldier I cleaned everything up.’
dripping. Ronan arrived home less than ten minutes later and knocked on the front door. Perhaps it was meal time but a delicious smell was wafting through the crack in the door. Fortunately an answer came from inside.
“Yes let’s go!”
Squeak – Before long a familiar young lady appeared beyond the open door. Her pale blue feet had become much fuller. Iril’s eyes widened.
“Ro Ronan?”
“Sister.”
“You…you…!”
My sister whom I saw for the first time in a while was still beautiful. Iril repeated unintelligible sounds like someone who had forgotten how to speak. It wasn’t long before she burst into tears and lunged at Ronan.
“Wow! “You’re back!”
Perhaps because her body grew larger it fit comfortably in my arms. Judging by her loud cries it seemed like she was healthy as Adeshan said. Ronan who was patting his sister opened his mouth.
“how have you been doing?”
“Ugh. I’m really good at it… haaaaaa!”
Iril was about to say something when she started crying again. It took her about ten more minutes of tears before she was able to get her mind together.
“Huh… She showed her rude side after becoming my older sister. “It’s okay now!”
“thank god. “What about Sita?”
“Oh wait Ronan’s friends took him. “It will probably come soon.”
Iril explained that Sita has been busy moving around recently. Her special adventure club also seemed to be carrying on some activity while she was away. Iril raised her tiptoes and held her sister’s face and asked worriedly.
“So have you eaten? “Why do you look so skinny?”
“rice…?”
Ronan shrugged his eyebrows. Come to think of it she hadn’t eaten anything in two years. The moment I realized that fact a loud sound resonated in my stomach.
“I didn’t eat.”
“Hehe I’ll prepare it for you in a moment. “I’m going to the backyard for a moment so wait in the kitchen!”
Iril smiling at her opened the back door and went out. Ronan’s eyes widened as he entered her kitchen. A familiar bastard was sitting at her table scooping up her stew. The combination of her dark blue hair and the napkin around her neck was crazy.
“…were you there?”
“It’s been a while Ronan. “Has it been two years?”
Schlieffen greeted me calmly. She had an attitude that would have been believed even if they had broken up and met yesterday. Ronan stared at him forgetting what to say. widely. The Empire’s Morning Star lowered her spoon and opened her mouth.
“I tried to stand up as soon as I finished eating.”
“…I guess so.”
“You look suspicious. Judging by Miss Iril’s reaction I noticed that you were back. “Is it a sin not to interfere with your brother and sister’s reunion?”
“Who said anything?”
Ronan sat down at the table. Her delicious smell was coming from Schlieffen’s bowl. Ronan whetted his appetite after seeing the stew mixed with plenty of meat and vegetables.
“Wow…that sounds delicious. My sister has also improved. “I added a lot of other ingredients like that.”
“Miss Iril’s cooking has always been excellent.”
Schlieffen made eye contact with Ronan and pulled his bowl towards himself. It was like an animal on guard lest its food be taken away. Ronan snorted as if he was shocked.
“I won’t take it away. “You idiot.”
“This is an absurd speculation. “I only observed it because my body was sturdy.”
Schlieffen began to finish his stew. Ronan read the look of relief on his face and shook his head. Although his appearance may have changed his personality has not changed at all.
‘When will this bastard pay for his face?’
When Schlieffen grew up he became an unpleasant young man. For some reason he seemed to be more handsome than when I saw him in his previous life. Schlieffen having finally emptied his bowl opened his mouth.
“I think it was worth the two years invested. “The energy itself has changed.”
“You’re not easy either.”
Ronan raised the corner of his mouth. He could tell without paying much attention. The genius before his eyes had reached a much higher level than he had seen before.
‘I guess I’ve already passed the initial stage of awakening. ‘Monster bastard.’
The pulsating core was visible to the naked eye. I wondered how many prosecutors would be able to defeat this bastard in a formal sparring match. I wanted to clash swords right away but it wasn’t the time yet.
“Have you been staying here all this time? To protect your sister?”
“How can you say that? At that time the house next door was empty so I bought it. Miss Adeshan and the club members took turns standing guard.”
“It’s amazing.”
Ronan laughed. Buying a house for security purposes? Perhaps because it was the son of a great nobleman the scale itself was different. After tapping on the desk for a moment he opened his mouth.
“…thanks. “For keeping your promise.”
“I just did the obvious thing.”
Schlieffen calmly nodded his head. There was not the slightest hint of campaigning in his grave tone. Jump up! At that time the back door opened and Iril came in. The basket in her hand was full of eggs.
“Ta-da I’m here! I’ll do it right away so just wait a moment. Mr. Schlieffen will you eat it too?”
“…I will be grateful if you can.”
“Hehe I understand~”
Ronan laughed as if he was amazed. The dish he had just emptied was not small at all but he was truly consistent. Iril hummed her tune and began to cook her dishes.
“Ronan.”
“hmm?”
Squeak – Schlieffen suddenly stood up and winked at Ronan. He recognized her signal and stood up.
He was about a hand taller than Ronan. He followed Schlieffen to the second floor. Schlieffen stopped only when he reached the balcony on the second floor. Ronan tilted his head.
“What’s going on?”
“It’s not a pleasant story for Miss Iril to hear.”
Schlieffen looked out the window. Snow was falling heavily under the cloudy sky.
Because it was a well-built house the cold did not seep in but you could tell how cold it was outside just by looking at it. He who was quietly crossing his arms parted his lips.
“Do you know what happened to the system now?”
“What happened…?”
“Don’t panic and listen. “It is the month of the Golden Fox Ronan.”
“…what?”
Ronan’s face hardened. Schlieffen let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“It’s funny. “You have to wrap yourself in leather clothes when the cherry blossoms are supposed to be in full bloom.”
Ronan couldn’t answer. It was the month of the Golden Plum Fox when he had just entered Phileon. He was intoxicated by the spring flowers in full bloom and wielded a black iron sword.
“…Does this have something to do with the monsters appearing in the middle of Phileon?”
“I guess we ran into each other. Not only Phileon but the entire island is in trouble. “Because they appear wherever it snows.”
“Fuck. “What on earth happened?”
Ronan frowned. Even as he asked the question a corner of his brain tingled. He must have experienced something similar to this in a past life.
“This winter has been going on for a year. “Winter comes only to the islands.”
“A year?”
“Yes… it all started with one student.”
Rattling rattling. The windows were shaking from the blowing cold wind. Schlieffen who had been silent for a long time opened his mouth.
“Do you know about the existence of the Winter Witch?”
